The sounds of the Rolling Stones pour from the speakers while beer glasses are filled. It’s just another night at the office for Carmine Sodora, certified public accountant. Sodora founded Tavern Tax in 2005. For 10 weeks leading up to the April 15 deadline to submit United States income-tax returns, he brings his tax-filing services to bars.
Firmer global equities started to give the JSE support during the morning session on Friday, lifting the broader all-share index 0,91% by noon. Traders said that resource counters were also underpinning gains in the Alsi. By midday, the JSE’s resources index collected 1,59%. The platinum-mining index strengthened 3,07% and the gold-mining index advanced 1,25%.
Israeli tanks and bulldozers crossed into the Gaza Strip on Friday after the Jewish state warned it would retaliate against Hamas for a deadly explosion of violence earlier this week. Ten tanks and two armoured bulldozers entered 1km into Gaza, west of the Bureij refugee camp, drawing heavy fire from militants.
A 24-year-old man who allegedly attempted to set fire to the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) offices appeared before the Newlands Magistrate’s Court in Sophiatown on Friday. ”Did you have a problem with the programming?” Judge Koos Pretorius quipped.
Ah, Lord’s, that oasis of tradition in a world given over to instant, facile gratification of every which flavour. Yes, dear Lord’s, where time doesn’t dare move forward one tick unless; where the ungodly clatter of a woman’s heels marching to the beat of progress on the pavilion’s creaking floorboards causes collars and sphincters to tighten in unison.
It took less than a week for South African swimmers to appreciate how tough international competition will be at the Olympics in August. Last Sunday Swimming South Africa announced a record 21 swimmers had posted Olympic qualifying times. But by Wednesday many of these stars had bombed out of the World Short-Course Championships in Manchester.
One of the many joys attached to attending the Masters is watching the local television coverage. The biggest joy of all is the now established tradition that, starting on Monday at 6.30am, some poor sod masquerading as a traffic reporter has to set up a pitch at the side of the four-lane highway that runs menacingly in front of the Augusta National Golf Club.
Chaminda Vaas lost his nerves, but Shivnarine Chanderpaul kept his, and struck a four and a six off the last two balls to hand the West Indies a sensational one-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international on Thursday. Chasing 236 for victory from their allocation of 50 overs, the West Indies entered the final over at Queen’s Park Oval needing 13 runs to win.
Britain’s Justin Rose reeled off six birdies in eight holes to share the first-round lead at the US Masters while Tiger Woods laboured to stay in touch on Thursday. Rose shrugged off two early bogeys to fire a four-under-par 68 in bright sunshine. He launched his sizzling run at the par-three sixth before ending the day level with South African Trevor Immelman.
A vast study of the plants and animals unique to Madagascar was published on Thursday in a bid to protect thousands of rare species found only on the large African island. The island is home to 2% of the Earth’s total biodiversity, and only in Madagascar can one find wild lemurs, among many other unique species.